Intelligence Career Conversations

John Doyon: Go Where the Action Is

On this episode of Intelligence Career Conversations, host Jim Donnelly is joined by INSA Executive Vice President John Doyon. John reflects on the moments that defined his decades of service at NSA, from supporting treaty negotiations in Geneva to briefing the President in the Oval Office. He shares how mentors encouraged him to pursue unfamiliar opportunities, why interagency assignments broadened his perspective on national security, and the framework he still uses today when evaluating career decisions.  Thank you to our episode sponsor, Booz Allen [https://www.boozallen.com/markets/intelligence/talent-and-technology-for-national-security.html?origref=&vURL=/intelcareers].

Coming Soon: The Career Playbook

An exclusive preview of INSA’s upcoming nine-episode podcast series, The Career Playbook, explores the mentorship, setbacks, leadership lessons, and career pivots that shape success across the intelligence and national security community.

Dr. Linda Bixby: Turning Career Pivots into Opportunity

On this episode of Intelligence Career Conversations, host Jim Donnelly is joined by Dr. Linda Bixby, Chief Research and Partnerships Officer at the University of Arizona. Dr. Bixby reflects on her nonlinear career spanning government, academia, industry, and the nonprofit sector, sharing insights on continuous learning, mentorship, leadership, and navigating career pivots across the national security ecosystem. She also discusses the importance of communication skills, embracing discomfort, adapting to emerging technologies like AI, and building the interdisciplinary mindset needed to succeed in a rapidly evolving workforce.  Thank you to our episode sponsor, Booz Allen [https://www.boozallen.com/markets/intelligence/talent-and-technology-for-national-security.html?origref=&vURL=/intelcareers].

Robert Goodson: Networking, Networking, Networking

On this episode of Intelligence Career Conversations, host Jim Donnelly sits down with Robert Goodson, Senior Vice President at Booz Allen. Mr. Goodson reflects on his path from Army intelligence officer to private-sector leader, sharing insights on career growth, mentorship, networking, and leading teams in the national security space. He also offers practical advice on continuous learning, adapting to emerging technologies, and building the communication skills needed to succeed in a rapidly evolving industry.  Thank you to our episode sponsor, Booz Allen [https://www.boozallen.com/markets/intelligence/talent-and-technology-for-national-security.html?origref=&vURL=/intelcareers].

Meisha Lutsey: Leading at Scale in National Security

On this episode of Intelligence Career Conversations, host Jim Donnelly sits down with Meisha Lutsey, Executive VP, Mission and Engineering Support, CACI International. Meisha shares how she built her career in the intelligence and national security community, along with insights on developing skills through on-the-job experience, navigating career growth, and leading a large, globally deployed workforce. She also offers practical advice on continuous learning and adapting to rapidly evolving technology fields. Thank you to our episode sponsor, Booz Allen [https://www.boozallen.com/markets/intelligence/talent-and-technology-for-national-security.html?origref=&vURL=/intelcareers].